The Springboks are poised to face a crucial physical contest against a Wallabies team motivated by Will Skelton in the upcoming fortnight.
On Thursday, coach Joe Schmidt of the Wallabies unveiled his roster of 35 players in preparation for the upcoming matches against the Boks in South Africa.
Looking over the list, there are various key additions that could enhance the Wallabies’ performance in areas such as line-out, maul, and gainline, while a number of injury-related absences may impact the tourists’ effectiveness at scrum-time.
Among the forwards who contributed a significant physical presence during the latest Tests against the British and Irish Lions were Skelton, Tom Hooper, and Langi Gleeson.
Due to the recent modification of Rugby Australia’s overseas selection rules, Skelton (from La Rochelle), Hooper (from Exeter Chiefs), and Gleeson (from Montpellier) will all be eligible to play in the encounters set for Johannesburg on August 16 and Cape Town the following week.
The dynamic of that British and Irish Lions series noticeably shifted when Skelton joined the team in the second Test held in Melbourne.
The towering figure at 2.03m and weighing 135kg brought considerable strength as a ball-carrier and offered the tough B&I Lions front row a taste of their own medicine during every off-the-ball confrontation.
The Wallabies will require individuals such as Skelton to rise to the challenge against Eben Etzebeth and his teammates in the upcoming fortnight.
Skelton, Hooper, Gleeson, and another crucial forward, Rob Valetini, delivered strong performances against the British and Irish Lions’ defense. If all four players are available, the Wallabies could offer the Springboks a significant physical challenge.
Regrettably for the visiting team, injuries have weakened their options in the front row.
This situation may put them at a disadvantage during scrums and could potentially lessen their overall forward performance in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Hooker Dave Porecki declared his retirement from international rugby following the series against the B&I Lions, which has now been confirmed alongside the news that Matt Faessler, another strong contender, will not be part of the upcoming tour.
In light of this, Brandon Paenga-Amosa (21 selections) has been brought into the fold, while Billy Pollard (10) and Josh Nasser (6) join him as additional hooker options in the lineup.
Allan Alaalatoa, a seasoned tighthead, is currently recovering from shoulder surgery and is anticipated to return later in the Rugby Championship.
Experienced No 3 Taniela Tupou, who played a pivotal role in the scrum and with ball handling during the third Test against the B&I Lions in Sydney, has been selected, but he is likely to miss the initial match against the Boks at Ellis Park due to a toe injury.
While centurion James Slipper and Angus Bell are expected to strengthen the loosehead side, Schmidt will need to rely on Tom Robertson (33) or the less seasoned Zane Nonggorr (12) as tighthead against Ox Nché, considered the best in the world.
It’s worth noting that the Boks are also missing several key props at this time.
World Cup champions Frans Malherbe and Trevor Nyakane are out with severe injuries, along with loosehead Gerhard Steenekamp, who participated in 10 of the Boks’ 13 Tests last year.
One could argue that Wilco Louw has been the top scrummaging tighthead for South Africa in the last two seasons, even during periods when Malherbe and Nyakane were available.
Louw and Nché will be optimistic about their prospects against a Wallabies pack that is struggling, and the Bok team as a whole will aim to exploit their dominant set piece whenever possible—securing penalties, gaining territory, and racking up points.
While the Wallabies have just faced three demanding encounters against the Lions, the Boks have had a much softer start to the international season.
The Barbarians posed minimal challenge in the 54-7 defeat in Cape Town, and Italy and Georgia only occasionally showed their potential.
South Africa might feel they have something to demonstrate after allowing maul tries from both Italy and Georgia.
The Wallabies’ line-out caused difficulties for the B&I Lions in their recent match in Sydney, and it could pose a challenge for the Bok pack in the upcoming series.
This challenge, along with the confrontations at the gainline and breakdown, is precisely what the Boks require at this juncture of their season.
Although outcomes against Australia will hold significance, each player within the squad will be fighting for a spot in the team heading to New Zealand for the eagerly awaited Freedom Cup series.
Beyond physicality and intensity, Schmidt and the Wallabies might pose different tactical challenges for the Boks in the weeks ahead, making it intriguing to observe how the hosts react.
Numerous deceptive plays have demonstrated effectiveness against the Springboks throughout the years, necessitating that the defense remains extremely vigilant.
The Wallabies present various dangers throughout their backline, and players like Tom Wright and Max Jorgensen will require tight attention.
Outside center Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i appears poised to compete against the Springboks for the first time, while a more recognized opponent in Nic White has postponed his retirement for an opportunity at a rare victory in South Africa – the Wallabies have not triumphed in the Republic since 2011.
Nonetheless, the position of flyhalf poses a challenge for the Wallabies.
Starting player Noah Lolesio is still out of action following neck surgery, while Tom Lynagh has been excluded from the South Africa tour due to a concussion suffered during the third Test match against the Lions.
Schmidt might consider Ben Donaldson, who came off the bench in the British and Irish Lions series, or could opt to start the recently recalled James O’Connor at number 10 as an unexpected choice.
The 35-year-old versatile back recently secured the Super Rugby championship with the Crusaders, although he last played for the Wallabies in 2022.
Waratahs’ playmaker Tane Edmed, who had his only appearance for the Wallabies against Ireland last November, is also included in the squad.
